On Tuesday morning at work, Melanie was nowhere to be found and Katie was thankful Fred had a key. As she walked to her desk she asked, “Where’s Melanie, Fred?”
“Don’t know and don’t care. But I’m in the mood for a sugar rush so I hope she brings back some donuts.”
“Sugar addiction is bad, bad news, but now it sounds good no matter what.” She turned around to pull some batches out of the filing cabinet. “Hi, guys, how’s it going on your side of the office?”
“Peachy,” Brenda said. The other two nodded and smiled.
It was nine o’clock when Melanie came in carrying a big box of donuts and sodas. “Sorry I’m late, people. Got caught in something so I decided to bring us a treat. Come and get it before I have a chance to eat it all,” she said as she walked by and into the breakroom.
They all followed Melanie and donuts and drinks were taken, except by Katie. She folded her arms. After a minute, Katie finally said, “Mel, can we go into your office? I’ve got to tell you something.”
“Sure.” She led the way and shut the door.
Katie sat and let the buildup explode. “Ivy Muffin was gone for a couple days. But last night she returned.”
“Happy times for you,” she said, filing her nails.
“Not happy times. She was delivered in a box, dead. Someone killed her.”
“Seriously? How terrible. I still have one kitten left if you want it.” Melanie didn’t seem affected by Katie’s news.
“No. No more cats.” She stood and walked over by Melanie. “I feel Kevin’s back to haunt me.”
“I doubt it.”
“The cat would be something he’d do.” She paced back and forth.
“What? You’re not making any sense.”
Katie inhaled deep and told her the story of her weekend and how she was staying at Mitch’s house.
Melanie put her finger to her lips and shushed her. “Keep it down or everyone will hear you. Kevin? You sure it was Kevin? I ran into his parents not too long ago and they said he’s still in New Mexico. He’s been there a few months” She pointed to the chair for Katie to sit again.
She sat. “I don’t know. What did I do to deserve all this? Am I cursed?”
“Maybe something good will come out of it. I don’t know. You need to go on a trip. Have a helicopter drop you out on your parents’ cruise ship or go to Boise for a few days. Take the rest of the day off if you want and go for a hike.”
“Not sure that would help clear my mind, being dropped out of a helicopter. I could always go fishing, but not with Mitch. He works tonight so he’s sleeping.”
“He seems to make you happy.” Melanie smiled.
“I hate throwing my problems on him. I want him to remember the fun things more.”
“Get out of here and do something for yourself.” She flapped her hand at the door and Katie got the hint her boss was tired of hearing complaints.
Katie drove by her apartment complex and didn’t see any crime scene tape. She pulled in and parked. As she walked up the stairs and got closer to her door, she felt a weight of uneasiness.
She unlocked her door but was reluctant to go inside. It’s daytime, goof head. Her living room looked bigger without all the boxes piled against the wall. She sat on the couch and turned on the TV. It didn’t help.
Katie could go fishing or take a walk on the path, but she didn’t want to be by herself. She got ready to leave and saw the book of poetry sitting by the lamp. She grabbed it and drove back to Mitch’s house.
Katie let herself in and saw Wendy watching a soap opera. “Hi. Mind if I join you?”
She moved a pillow off one of the cushions. “Sure, have a seat. You’re off work early.”
“Sent out the door by my boss.”
“Hungry? I’m bored sitting here and my stomach’s growling.”
“Sure.”
They drove to Boise and ate at the food court in the mall. Wendy filled Katie in on Mitch as a young boy. He loved to take things apart to see how they worked and try to put them back together again. More than half the time the items didn’t work again.
Later that night, after dinner, Katie got a call from Melanie, who told her to take the rest of the week off. The office was closed due to lack of work.